Combination lighter and consumable product dispenser

ABSTRACT

Methods and devices for combining a lighter with a consumable product dispenser are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the combined dispenser can have a fragrance that matches or compliments the consumable. The lighter portion of the dispenser can be non-disposable, for example, and the consumable portion can be disposable. The consumable portion can be, for example, slidably attached so that it can be readily removed when emptied. The consumable can be, for example, a perfume or fragrance, a mint or candy, a hand sanitizer gel, chewing gum, or an anti-bacterial lotion. The consumable dispensing portion can have a button, for example, that when pressed, allows it to slide into the lighter. When the button is released, the lighter and consumable can, for example, become locked into a single combined unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/672,424, entitled “METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONNECTING A CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND A CONSUMABLE PRODUCT”, filed on Jul. 17, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to consumer goods, and in particular to providing various consumables together with a cigarette lighter in an integrated package or device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For years smokers have felt a need to get rid of the smell that comes along with smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products, as well as various alternate smoke-able substances. This perceived need is felt by many different age groups, for different reasons, and relating to many different situations. However, it is inconvenient for a smoker to carry around, for example, in addition to his or her bulky cigarette pack, either a lighter or matches, and a pack of breath fresheners, chewing gum or the like. What is thus needed in the art is an all-inclusive “smoker's kit”.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts the device of FIG. 1 separated into its two component parts, namely the lighter portion and the product dispensing portion;

FIG. 3 depicts the separate components of the exemplary device of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an opposite orientation to that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 depicts the exemplary device of FIG. 1 in an exploded view where the two separate components are slightly separated from each other, but in their proper orientation;

FIG. 5 shows the device of FIG. 1 in a more frontal head-on view; and

FIG. 6 is a rear-view of the device of FIGS. 1-5 showing the opposite point of view from that depicted in FIG. 5.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods and devices for combining a lighter with a consumable product dispenser are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the combined dispenser can have a fragrance that matches or compliments the consumable. The lighter portion of the dispenser can be non-disposable, for example, and the consumable portion can be disposable. The consumable portion can be, for example, slidably attached to the lighter portion so that it can be readily removed when emptied, and for example, replaced with another pre-filled dispenser. The consumable can be, for example, a perfume or fragrance, a mint or candy, a hand sanitizer gel, chewing gum, or an anti-bacterial lotion, to name a few. In some embodiments the consumable product dispensing portion can have a button, for example, that when pressed, allows it to slide into the lighter. When the button is released, the lighter and dispenser can, for example, be locked into a single combined unit.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an integrated device can appear to be a single unit cigarette/cigar lighter with a disposable and attachable dispenser in which the plastic of the complete unit may be scented so as to match or complement the consumable product that is contained inside. As shown in the various figures, there can be half of the unit filled with lighter fluid and the other half filled with a consumable product. The top of the unit can include a lighter device with a fuel reservoir, and the bottom half, attachable to the top half via a sliding and locking mechanism, may contain a snap open lid, e.g., plastic device, at its bottom portion that allows for dispensing of consumable products.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Using devices according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, smokers can now have the ability to utilize a multi-purpose cigarette lighter combined with a dispenser of a consumable product. Such a device can serve many useful functions. For example, it can be an easy to use cigarette lighter that can be refilled and reused as many times as one pleases. Second, it can have an attachable unit that contains a consumable product such as breath mints, breath spray, hand sanitizer, fragrance, cologne or perfume, etc. And finally, the unit itself can have a beautiful scent embedded in its plastic surfaces that resembles or indicates what consumable product is inside.

FIGS. 1-6 depict a combination lighter and consumables dispenser according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Externally, as seen, for example, in FIG. 1, there are two compartments which can be connected by a slidable mechanism. The components themselves can be made of an FDA approved plastic, such as Delrin® (acetal homopolymer) for example, or, for example, polypropylene, or polycarbonate. Besides being approved by the FDA for use in the food industry, Delrin® has many other advantages that make it preferable over other types of commonly used plastics. It is noted that Delrin® is DuPont's commercial name for Polyoxymethylene (POM), and also known as acetal, polyacetal, and polyformaldehyde, which is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts that require high stiffness, low friction, and excellent dimensional stability. Because of POM's unique properties it has the following advantages that make it a good candidate for use in some embodiments of the present invention: high abrasion resistance, low coefficient of friction, high heat resistance, good electrical and dielectrical properties, and low water absorption.

The upper lighter portion can be filled, for example, with butane, a highly flammable, colorless, and easily liquefied gas. At the bottom of the lighter compartment there can be a built-in horse-shoe shaped female groove into which the bottom compartment can slide by means of a corresponding male horseshoe-shaped protrusion. Additionally, there can be a closable hole or portal provided on a surface of the lighter unit to allow the lighter to be re-filled with fluid, as is known in the art.

The bottom dispenser compartment can be filled with anything from candy, mints, gum, or breath spray, hand sanitizer, perfumes or various other types of consumable products. The bottom compartment, used to dispense a consumable product, can have a built in attachment mechanism similar to the bottom of the lighter portion which, as noted, can be a male horse-shoe shaped groove that will allow the bottom unit to slide into the top unit. Alternatively the lighter and dispenser portions maybe attached via any other known mechanism or technique, such as, for example, snaps, grooves, flaps, and flexible sleeves, or, for example, “Lego” like mated protrusions and holes that snap fit or compression fit or the like.

The dispenser compartment can, for example, have a snap open lid at its bottom surface to dispense the consumable product. The snap open lid can have a small groove that allows it to snap into the side of the compartment as well as snap out when pressure is applied. The plastic used for the bottom compartment can be the same material as is used for the top lighter unit, or, for example, a different material can be used.

The entire lighter, like the slidable attachment mechanism, can be, for example, made of the same plastic, such as, for example, Delrin or similar plastics such as polypropylene or polycarbonate. Alternatively each component may be made of a different plastic. The shape and size of the lighter, as well as the sliding mechanisms, can be accomplished through injection molding, in which the POM is heated and placed into a mold cavity where it cools and hardens to its desired form.

During the injection molding, while the POM is inserted into a metal mold and is still in its liquid form, a few pallets of a fragrance polymer material, such as are provided in Table A below, can, for example, be inserted and mixed into the plastic. These fragrances can match to the type of mint or candy inside the consumable product, for example, such as cinnamon, spearmint, peppermint, fruit flavors, etc. The fragrance polymer can mix in with the POM at about 3-8% for example, depending on the specific materials used. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the overall product can thus have a faint scent of the mint candy, or, for example, breath freshener liquid that is contained inside, which can last, for example, for about 60-90 days.

Next described in greater detail are FIGS. 1-6.

With reference to FIG. 1, there can be seen the combined lighter/consumable product dispenser in a perspective view. There is upper lighter portion 110 and a lower dispenser portion 120, with a dispensing cap and opening 130. The two portions of 110 and 120 are joined by a male/female horseshoe attachment mechanism 140, as described above. At the top of lighter portion 110 is the lighter mechanism 115.

FIG. 2 shows the same components are as depicted in FIG. 1, yet now placed side to side for easy comparison. The lighter portion is on the left 210, and the dispenser portion on the right 220. Visible at the bottom of lighter portion 210 is the lighter mechanism 215 with the roller by which a consumer creates a spark from the flint. Also seen is the opening for the flame. At the top of lighter portion 210 is seen the outside contour of the female horseshoe attachment mechanism 240. On the right side of FIG. 2 is seen the dispenser portion 220 and at the top of that is the male aspect of the horseshoe clasping mechanism 225. Visible at the bottom of the dispenser portion as in FIG. 1 is the closeable opening through which the consumables can be dispensed.

FIG. 3 shows the identical components as are shown in FIG. 2, except the view is now rotated so that the horseshoe attachment mechanism can be seen in detail. At the left of FIG. 3 is lighter portion 310 and at the right of FIG. 3 is dispenser portion 320. At the top of the lighter portion is now seen dearly the female horseshoe protrusion which is essentially an extension along most of the periphery, in a horseshoe shape, of the bottom portion of the lighter, thus creating a hole or groove into which the male portion can be slid. This male portion is seen in the top of dispenser 320 and labeled 325 in FIG. 3. Of course, to insert the dispenser into the lighter, the dispenser as shown in FIG. 3 would have to be rotated 180° so that that male portion 325 lines up with the female portion 340 and they then can be slid horizontally together to clasp or attach. There can be a locking mechanism for hen it is fully clasped, and the prongs at the open portion of the horseshoe 340 can, for example click into place with the back portion (as seen in FIG. 3) of the male portion 325 as shown, in a snapping or tight fit closure. Alternatively, other locking mechanisms may be used.

FIG. 4 is essentially the same view as depicted in FIG. 1 except that lighter portion 410 and dispenser portion 420 have been separated and are shown in a semi-exploded view. Also visible is the outside contour of the female horseshoe clasping mechanism 415, attached to the bottom of the lighter portion, and the male portion of said clasping mechanism 425, showing the grooves into which the female portion (see in detail 340 of FIG. 3) slides, thus completing the clasping or attachment process.

FIG. 5 shows the two portions of FIG. 4 after the aforementioned clasping process has occurred, and finally, FIG. 6 is a front-on view of the exemplary device shown in FIG. 5.

Although the exemplary device of FIGS. 1-6 is shown to have rounded corners and thus achieve a kind of “sleek” look, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention essentially any design or shape can be used for the lighter and the dispenser. The lighter and dispenser need not have the same cross sectional area as long as at the point of clasping—which is, for example, the bottom of the lighter and the top of the dispenser—they fit together. Thus, the clasping mechanism could have the shape of a small waisted structure whereas the walls of each of the lighter and the dispenser expand outward from the clasping mechanism to the respectively upper or lower portion of the two components, thus creating, for example, an hour glass shape. In other embodiments, various other shapes are possible, as may be desirous in various contexts due to marketing, functionality and design considerations.

Table A, provided on the following page, lists exemplary flavors for the consumable, and fragrance polymers to be used to impart scent to the device's walls, as described above.

TABLE A Mint and/or Breath Spray Flavors Fragrance Polymers Cinnamon, Peppermint, Aeromatic Fusion ™ cinnamon Spearmint, Watermelon, fragrance concentrate, Aeromatic Cherry, Grape, Apple, Fusion ™ peppermint fragrance Vanilla, Chocolate, concentrate, Aeromatic Fusion ™ Bubble Gum, etc. spearmint fragrance concentrate, Aeromatic Fusion ™ watermelon fragrance concentrate, Aeromatic Fusion ™ cherry fragrance concentrate, Aeromatic Fusion ™ grape fragrance concentrate, Aeromatic Fusion ™ apple fragrance concentrate, etc. (which can consist of 1 or more of the following materials): 2,4-Dimethyl-3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, 2- Tertiary-Butylcyclohexyl Acetate, a,a- Dimethylphenethyl Butyrate, Allyl 3- Cyclohexylpropionate, Allyl Hpetanoate, (L) Citronellol, and Gamma- Undecalactone.

Marketing of Exemplary Devices

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, exemplary devices may be made available in various models which can be targeted to different market segments that use cigarette/cigar lighters. Most will have a slidably attachable unit as seen in FIGS. 1-6, but it is understood that the present invention also covers various other orientations, attachment mechanisms and designs. The overall finished product, when the consumable products are attached, is as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. In an attempt to follow a “GoGreen” image and make product as safe for the environment as possible, the lighter unit itself without the attachable bottom compartment can be re-usable, and can contain a hole allowing consumers to refill it with butane, for example. Each lighter can be covered under a factory warranty, for example. Each lighter sold in stores can come with an attachable dispenser filled with consumable product such as from candy, mints, gum, breath spray, to hand sanitizer. When the consumable products in these attachable units are finished, consumers will be able to detach the dispenser unit from the lighter and buy, a new one from any preferred retailer.

As is known, lighters that are normally sold in stores are used by many different types of people of all sorts of cultures, ethnicities, social classes, and age groups, for more reasons than just lighting cigarettes or other smokes. Thus, different designs, slogans, colors, price points, dispensed products, and methods to make each individual consumer who uses cigarette lighters desire an integrated device as described above can be utilized. Different types of consumable products that can be used and attached to exemplary lighters are, as noted, breath mints, hand sanitizer, energy spray, breath strips, and supplement pills, to name a few.

Exemplary Marketing Strategies

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, various marketing strategies may be used to market variations of a combined lighter/dispenser according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Exemplary classes and demographics and corresponding marketing strategies directed towards them, are next described.

Class A: Ages 15-18 High School Students

Despite it being illegal to buy tobacco related products under the age of 18 in many states in the United States, it has become more and more common for teens, especially those in high school, to smoke cigarettes and even marijuana. At that age, teens are usually looking to hide these obvious scents from their parents, teachers, and other parental authorities. Combining those two desires, of having a lighter and a way of getting rid of the telltale scents of smoking, can drive a need for various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Such an integrated device can be marketed at the same retail value as many branded cigarette lighters. The consumable dispenser can be sold attached to the lighter with one consumable. However, all other related or similar consumables, such as mints of different flavors, gum, or scented hand sanitizers, can be sold separately. Optionally, a licensed brand can be used for the consumable dispenser that is popular in that region, or that precise age group. Such licensed brands can include a popular breath mint company such as Certs, Tic-Tac, etc. or, a known hand sanitizer company such as, for example, Purell. This can allow a product to be more desirable, and increase sales of the separately sold consumable dispensers.

Class B: Ages 19-22 (Music Followers)

Most people of this age group, that generally both work and that go to college, have similar social habits as far as social activities. Many such people go to music concerts, parties, clubs, bars, and other social gatherings. When people go to these events they look for a place to put their belongings that will no take up room in their pockets and that they cannot place in their cigarette packs. Once the consumable products are finished, the consumer can put whatever he or she may want to put in the dispenser. It can thus, in exemplary embodiments, function as a kind of pouch or storage device. This will appeal to men and women alike who wish to hide their belongings in a safe and portable place that won't take up room in their pockets. In such embodiments, a larger opening can be provided, or one that has two opening sizes, a smaller one when dispensing product, and a larger one for storage use after consuming the dispensed product.

Class C: Middle Aged Men and Women (Ages 25-35)

Regardless of age, gender, or social class, people always want to smell nice. Whether it is to impress a friend, a date, or their significant other, people make it their business to buy all sorts of products that make them look and smell attractive. As everyone knows, the smell of cigarettes or other types of scents that come with using a lighter are often not desirable. A lighter/dispenser model targeted to this group can have a more elegant look than other simple designs. Licensed brands of consumable products can be used to put in the attachable compartments that are popular amongst those of middle age, for example. The price of an exemplary device will depend upon what type of consumable is contained inside.

Class D: Products, Services, and Advertisement

There are many companies, such as banks and insurance companies, that give away promotional products with their name and logo on them. There are also companies that provide products, such as supplement pills or fragrance products, that struggle to promote their products efficiently. Therefore, banks and/or insurance companies can be offered to buy exemplary products for promotional giveaways. Supplement companies, such as providers of Coenzyme Q10, or Vitamins A-Z, would love the opportunity to offer their pills in an attachable compartment to lighters. Since lighters are bought by all sorts of classes of people and age groups it can be a profitable advertising approach to run such promotions.

The present invention has been described in detail, including various exemplary and preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon consideration of the present disclosure, may make modifications and/or improvements on this invention that fall within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1. An integrated device, comprising: a refillable lighter; and a consumable product dispenser, wherein the lighter and the dispenser are removably attached by removably attaching the bottom surface of the lighter and a surface of the dispenser.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the lighter and the dispenser are removably attached via at least one of snaps, grooves, flaps, and flexible sleeves.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the lighter and the dispenser are removably attached at their respective bottom surfaces.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein one of the lighter and the dispenser is provided with a female groove in its bottom surface, and the other is provided with a complementary male protrusion that fits into said groove.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein one of the lighter and the dispenser is provided with one or more female holes in its bottom surface, and the other is provided with one or more complementary male protrusions that fit into said groove.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is provided with a closable opening from which product is dispensed.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said closable opening has a snap flap type closure.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein said closable opening is provided on one of the top surface and a side surface of the dispenser.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is provided with a closable opening from which product is dispensed.
 11. The device of claim 3, wherein the dispenser is provided with a closable opening in its bottom surface from which product is dispensed.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of a surface of the lighter and the dispenser has an embedded fragrance.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein said fragrance one of resembles or complements a fragrance of a product provided in the dispenser.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the lighter and dispenser are made of one of Polyoxymethylene (POM), polypropylene and polycarbonate.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the lighter and dispenser are made of the same material.
 16. A method of providing a combined lighter and dispenser, comprising: providing a refillable lighter; providing a consumable product dispenser, removably attaching the bottom surface of the lighter and a surface of the dispenser.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the lighter and the dispenser are removably attached via at least one of snaps, grooves, flaps, and flexible sleeves.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the lighter and the dispenser are removably attached at their respective bottom surfaces.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the lighter and the dispenser is provided with a female groove in its bottom surface, and the other is provided with a complementary male protrusion that fits into said groove.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the lighter and the dispenser is provided with one or more female holes in its bottom surface, and the other is provided with one or more complementary male protrusions that fit into said groove. 